Backed up to his 1 after a downed Angelo State punt, Taylor handed off to Flemming, who burst up the middle and sped away from Rams defenders on a 99-yard touchdown run. That sparked No. 5 West Texas A & M to a 38-17 victory before 9,281 fans at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium.

WT improved to 9-0 for the first time in the 95 seasons that the Buffaloes have played football. WT has won nine games in an entire season only six times, including the past three years.

"It's the kind of stuff you dream about and will tell your grandkids about," said WT receiver A.J. Ruffins, who caught two touchdown passes.

Flemming's run equaled a team record set in 1970 by Ralph Thompson in a 48-0 win against Wichita State.

Flemming's 99-yard touchdown erased the Lone Star Conference record of 98 yards set in 1995 by Wesley Whiten of Texas A & I (now Texas A & M-Kingsville).

"It was a zone play, and as soon as I got the ball, I hit it aggressively like the coaches told me to do. Once I got by the linebackers, I knew it was my speed against their speed," Flemming said. "When I was by the linebackers, I knew I was taking it to the house."

Flemming joined his father, Keith Miller, as family LSC record-holders. Miller had 272 receiving yards for WT in a 1990 game against East Texas State.

Big plays like that helped red-shirt freshman Harris, who started in place of Keith Null, win his first start for WT. Null, the nation's No. 2 passer, injured his right ankle last week against Abilene Christian.

Harris threw four touchdown passes and for 314 yards.

"It feels pretty good, but it's just a step in the journey, said Harris, who also said he was told Friday that he would start.

"Our coaches did a good job of not putting him in bad situations," WT head coach Don Carthel said. "Taylor made some great throws. He was confident and well-prepared."

Taylor left the game early in the fourth quarter after completing 24-of-34 passes and recording WT's eighth 300-yard passing game.

On the defensive side, the Buffs starters did not give up a touchdown for the third time this season. Down 38-3, the Rams scored twice late in the game on a pass interception return and a short run against WT reserves.

"We knew we had to step up with Keith out," linebacker Eldon Grimslid said. "We had confidence in Taylor, but we needed to support him. I thought he did a good job."

Grimslid was one of three Buffs with seven tackles. He had one of four sacks and shared a tackle for loss. Brandon Swain had eight tackles, three quarterback hurries, two tackles for loss and a sack.

In a game without much drama, Flemming's 99-yard gallop brought fans to their feet.

"Every day, I tell him that he makes big plays. He lived up to nicknamed, 'Big Play,'" said Harris, who chased Flemming to about midfield before letting his running back go the rest of the way to the end zone. "I was so pumped up."

Flemming's record run overshadowed his 64-yard run early in the second half that set up Harris' second scoring pass to Ruffins. Flemming injured an ankle on the play and left the game with a season-high 201 yards. He is 5 yards short of becoming WT's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2000, when DeWayne Miles had 1,524 yards.

"We still have two games to go," Flemming said, smiling.

The Buffs scored on their third possession as Taylor whipped his team 69 yards in eight plays. Two completions went to Ruffins, the second covering 8 yards and getting WT into the end zone at the 2:32 mark in the first quarter.

Ruffins had four catches, including a team-leading seventh and eighth TD receptions.

"It felt the same," Ruffins said of catching passes from Harris. "We get a lot of reps with both quarterbacks."

Turnovers stopped the Buffs' first two drives in the Angelo State end of the field. But the Buffs got it going on their third possession.

"Well, stuff happens. You've got to swallow, step up and make big plays," Harris said

WT made it 10-0 on Roberts' 25-yard field goal on a drive that included Harris' 42-yard pass down the middle to B.J. Vickers.

The closest ASU came to scoring in the first half was a 44-yard field goal try that fell short at the horn.

The Rams got on the scoreboard in the third quarter on a 26-yard field goal by Ryan Smith but WT answered with Harris' third (14 yards to Seth Hayden) and fourth (4 yards to Carl Johnson) TD passes to up the score to 38-3.

Harris gave way to Matt McIntyre, who started the year as the No. 2 quarterback.

The Buffs had 579 total yards, the sixth time they've been over 500 yards in offense this season.

Angelo State had 291 yards, 30 less than WT has been giving up on the average.